Preview: Rays at Red Sox

April 13, 2013|Reuters

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Preview: Rays at Red Sox

A rainout gave the Tampa Bay Rays a second straight day off to try and figure out a way to ignite their struggling offense. The visiting Rays send reigning Cy Young winner David Price to the mound and look to get their bats going when they face the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. The Rays are near the bottom of the league in batting average (.227), runs (32), hits (64) and home runs (four). The first of the scheduled four-game series was washed out Friday, but Price and Jon Lester remained in their scheduled spots in the rotation.

The Red Sox have dropped two straight after a promising 5-2 start, but could get designated hitter David Ortiz back soon from an Achilles injury. Shane Victorino, an offseason free-agent signing, has recorded 12 hits, a .333 batting average and a pair of stolen bases in his first nine games for Boston. Friday's game was rescheduled for June 18 as part of a day-night doubleheader.

Price was hammered in his last start by Cleveland, allowing 10 hits and eight runs over five innings. The 27-year-old left-hander has given up three homers in his two outings and walked five in 11 innings of work. Price has had success against the Red Sox, boasting an 8-4 record with a 3.08 ERA over 96 1/3 innings. Dustin Pedroia is 10-for-31 and has a .417 on-base percentage when facing Price.

The Red Sox could not ask for much more from Lester in his first two starts. The 29-year-old, coming off a rough 9-14 season, has allowed 10 hits, two walks and two runs while striking out 13 in 12 innings. Lester is 10-8 with a 4.30 ERA over 132 innings lifetime against Tampa Bay, but gave up 10 runs in 10 frames to lose a pair of games against the Rays last season. Evan Longoria is 9-for-39 with a homer against Lester.

WALK-OFFS

1. Longoria and Ben Zobrist are batting a combined .355 for Tampa Bay and the rest of the team is at .191.

2. Boston OF/DH Jonny Gomes, who started his career with Tampa Bay from 2003-08, is 10-for-29 (.345) with three homers against his former team.

3. Tampa Bay closer Fernando Rodney had only two blown saves out of 50 opportunities last season - one against Boston.